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Level 2

449 points

macOS wants access to your Google account

Just updated to Mojave 10.14.4. The only previous connection between any Google accounts I have and my Apple world is sharing my Google calendar with my Apple calendar (I can see on all my devices).

Now I'm getting a request in Mac OS calendar to enter the password for the Google account. "Google requires completing authentication". The pop-up opens safari and takes me to a page that says macOS wants the ability to do all of these (no pick-and-choose possible):

Read, compose, send, and permanently delete all your email from Gmail (not necessary - I don't use Apple mail on the Mac for access to my Gmail)
See, edit, download, and permanently delete your contacts (um, no. In any case, my contacts are already in iCloud)
See, edit, share, and permanently delete all the calendars you can access using Google Calendar (this is what I'm looking for, although I really just want to "see". The rest is unnecessary)
View and send chat messages (not needed)

My only choices at this point are to allow this full access or cancel (and then have to deal with being asked again).

Is there a way to get my Google calendar events to show up in my Apple calendar like it did previously and not allow access to everything else? Can I just leave it be? If the latter is true, any way of getting rid of the prompts to enter the password?

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 5, 2019 7:28 AM

Best reply

rjbokleman

Level 1

15 points

Posted on Apr 12, 2019 6:20 AM

The number of very unhelpful (derogatory honestly) comments and statements here is beyond belief.

The bottom line is that when Apple releases an update to macOS they NEED to provide their loyal base details about what's IN the update! We WANT security updates, but if they keep surprising us with changes...we're going to be much LESS likely to take these updates.

I don't care about the details of the security fixes being included in the documentation, as Apple has always been cagy about detailing those. However, if you're going to introduce or include a NEW feature...they need to provide documentation so we are prepared to deal with the change.

For those who get blind sided by this issue the SOLUTION to is is to head over to System Preferences and uncheck the 'Safari Autofill' option under Touch ID as shown. Life returns to normal.

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53 replies

LD150

Level 10

89,883 points

Jun 17, 2019 2:24 AM in response to cojaysea

...because MacOS is running your Mac. It would be wierd if something other than MacOS talked to your screen

MacOS is the intermediary between you, the user, and your Google account. It’s all semantics who actually “asked” you.

Google have decided they are an all-or-nothing suite.

So you don’t want your Mac to access your Google calendar? OK you did right to say no.

Bing “operating system”

jjkraw Author

Level 2

449 points

Jun 17, 2019 4:55 AM in response to jjkraw

Circling back on this (I'm the original poster)...

When Thunderbird (the program I use for mail) implemented OAuth2 for GMAIL access, it asked for the ability to futz with my GMAIL only - and not any other Google data. I said "yes" because that's exactly what I wanted.

What I object to in the MacOS implementation is its not being granular enough (i.e. they use the big hammer approach). If I want to view a Google calendar in the Calendar app, I shouldn't need to give Mac OS access to my GMAIL, contacts, and chats... or anything beyond Google calendars. Similarly, if I wanted to access a GMAIL account in Mail, I shouldn't need to provide access to calendars, etc. - just GMAIL.

That's my beef.

LD150

Level 10

89,883 points

Jun 17, 2019 7:31 AM in response to jjkraw

You’ve a good point. I’m guessing it’s because Mail (aka Internet) accounts by default access mail, calendar, contacts, notes, reminders then you untick them after signing in.

Circling back to my first point, If I still had a Google account it wouldn’t bother me how much access my own Mac had. It has a pass code that protects a lot more secrets than when Im having lunch. It’s me who has access not Apple.

Still you have a solution. Use T’bird and hope it is secure.